The Husky and His White Cat Shizun

Chapter 287 - The Peak of Life and Death: Inescapable Destiny

Jiang Xi remained silent. Xue Meng was also quiet.

After a long while, Jiang Xi spoke with a gloomy expression, his tone stiff, "Since you've heard it all, there's no need for me to say more."

"..."

"You should settle your affairs according to the rules of the Peak of Life and Death," Jiang Xi averted his gaze, not even wanting to look at Xue Meng again. "Your mother entrusted you to me. I'll be waiting for you down the mountain."

Xue Meng stirred but it was an insignificant movement. It felt as if all the blood in his body had been drained. Just a few twitches of his fingers exhausted him completely.

He stared fixedly at the deep Heartcore Palace. The bloodstains on the carpet were no longer visible against the flickering flames, but Xue Zhengyong still lay on the ground. Without his smile, he looked aged, his wrinkles prominent, and gray hair sprouted at his temples.

Jiang Xi, on the other hand, appeared to be less than thirty, forever in the prime of his life.

Xue Meng took a few slow steps forward before stopping.

"Go on your way."

Jiang Xi turned back to see Xue Meng's solitary figure.

Xue Meng declared, "I don't acknowledge you. You're not my father."

With that, he slammed the temple door shut. After a while, Jiang Xi heard Xue Meng's intermittent sobs, muffled yet heart-wrenching.

"..."

Jiang Xi stood in the chilly wind for a long time until his limbs turned numb. Then, he descended the mountain slowly.

At the foot of the mountain, most cultivators had dispersed due to their fear of the Phoenix Heavenly Fire. Only a few Treading Snow Palace disciples remained, including Mei Hanxue.

Observing Jiang Xi's exit, the young Treading Snow Palace disciples bowed respectfully, following etiquette, and whispered, "Patriarch Jiang."

Jiang Xi felt his facial muscles tense up. He pressed his lips together, his brown eyes landing on Mei Hanxue, who was leading the group. "Still waiting?"

Mei Hanxue replied calmly and distantly, "For an old friend."

Jiang Xi understood whom he referred to and replied, "He won't be coming down anytime soon."

Mei Hanxue said, "Waiting for a while is still waiting, whether it's a short while or a few days. Since we have nothing else to do, let's stay here." He paused before continuing, "Additionally, Headmaster Jiang, the Palace Master has a message for you."

Frustration pent up within Jiang Xi, but he suppressed it and asked, "What is it?"

Mei Hanxue bowed slightly and said, "The Palace Master has decided not to blindly follow the Heavenly Sound Pavilion, the descendants of the divine beings, nor will Treading Snow Palace align with the other immortal sects in the Upper cultivation Realm. As the leader of all the immortal sects, Headmaster Jiang, you can proceed with your plans without taking our Treading Snow Palace into consideration from now on."

Jiang Xi fell silent for a moment, his expression unreadable. "Are you planning to remain independent from the other immortal sects?"

"Being alone and without support is certainly terrifying," Mei Hanxue's gaze remained brimming with the warmth of spring, his lips curved in a smile, yet his demeanor held a chilling undertone. "But blind adherence and faith in so-called deities are the most unacceptable things of all."

Jiang Xi gazed at him intently.

For no apparent reason, he felt a surge of anger, an oppressive sense of frustration, and a chill in his teeth.

Back then, when he saw Nan Gongliu seated in this very spot, he found the other's many resolutions absurd and laughable. But now that he himself had reached this point, he realized that many things were simply beyond one's control.

Was it his true intention to deal with Mo Ran?

Was his faith in the Heavenly Sound Pavilion truly sincere?

During the campaign against the Peak of Life and Death, he had once tried to dissuade them all, but his fellow sects opposed him. As the leader of all immortals, what could he do in the end? In the past, he could still lead Solitary Moon Night to stay aloof, holding onto their own stance. But when he ascended to his prestigious position, and Solitary Moon Night became the top sect in the world, he realized there was no turning back for him.

He was destined to become the next Nan Gongliu.

Jiang Xi closed his eyes, saying nothing as he turned and left. Mei Hanxue, well-mannered, bowed again behind him and said softly, "Farewell, Sect Leader Jiang. May we meet again in the martial world."

He didn't respond. Dressed in a green robe embroidered with golden threads, he walked away without looking back.

When he was enthroned on Spirit Mountain, replacing Nan Gongliu's former glory, the applause below was deafening, filled with joy and excitement. Back then, he believed he would be different from his predecessor, that he could change the world with his own strength. He had ambition, passion, and aspirations.

But now he understood.

That applause back then wasn't for the inauguration of an extraordinary immortal leader. It was actually a funeral for a free spirit.

From this day forth, the martial world would seem distant, and the universe vast. Meeting Lord Jiang would be easy, but finding Jiang Xi again would be a difficult task.

After burying his parents, Xue Meng never left the Peak of Life and Death. When the heavenly fire subsided, Mei Hanxue was sent up the mountain to search for him. Eventually, she found the unconscious Xue Meng in the Shuangtian Temple and brought him back to the Treading Snow Palace in Kunlun.

Simultaneously, the Sovereign of Treading Snow Palace made a pronouncement to the world, declaring that henceforth, all sects would no longer need to consult Kunlun, and Kunlun, in turn, would no longer wish to be bound by the laws of the cultivation realm. Thus, they severed ties decisively.

Later on, Jiang Xi summoned everyone to the Spirit Mountain to deliberate on recent significant affairs. During the assembly, Jiang Xi proposed that major cases should be adjudicated through a three-tiered review process, comprising the "Public Court Trial," the "Joint Trial by All Immortal Sects," and the "Trial by the Common Folk," rather than relying solely on the testimony of a single party.

Although he didn't explicitly mention which "school of thought" he was referring to, it was clear to everyone that he was expressing dissatisfaction with the Heavenly Sound Pavilion's status. As a result, Jiang Xi's statement met with fierce opposition.

The Heavenly Sound Pavilion was created by the deities, and Lord Wood, the pavilion master, employs the divine weapon left behind by the Scale God for his judgments. Nothing could be more just than the will of the heavens.

"Abbot Jiang's reckless behavior may invite heavenly retribution."

There were also conservative believers in the Heavenly Sound Pavilion who held Mu Yanli's every word and deed as sacred dogma. Fueled by an unknown courage, they rose up in passion during the meeting.

"How can the Heavenly Sound Pavilion, a beacon of light in the cultivation world for thousands of years, be faultless? They have cleared countless unjust accusations. It is because of the existence of the Heavenly Sound Pavilion that many think twice before committing wicked deeds. Sect Leader Jiang, are you planning to extinguish this holy flame of the cultivation world?"

Jiang Xi responded coldly, "In your opinion, does the Heavenly Sound Pavilion truly stand as an impeccable institution that never makes mistakes?"

"The Pavilion has stood for a thousand years, created by deities themselves. It naturally cannot err."

"We cultivate to ascend to the heavens and transcend our mortal bodies. If Sect Leader Jiang believes that even celestial deities can be fallible, where then lies the faith in cultivation?"

There were too many voices of conservatism. They were all roused to defend the Heavenly Sound Pavilion that the Scale Deity had left behind. In the end, Jiang Xi's face was ashen, but he was powerless to resist them.

The matter eventually died down without a conclusion.

But truth could not be concealed forever; it would eventually surface. After the chaos at the Peak of Life and Death dispersed, instead of subsiding, the turmoil intensified. Three days later, a great upheaval began in Shu.

The first to lose their composure was Impermanence Town. A group of mourners in plain clothes marched to the Heavenly Sound Pavilion in the Upper Cultivation Realm, cursing and protesting.

"When has the Peak of Life and Death ever accepted child sacrifices?"

"Where did the Heavenly Sound Pavilion find such beasts? To accuse the Peak of Life and Death as thieves! Can your consciences truly rest easy?!"

"Practice cultivation, practice with your eyes closed! Impermanence Town lies at the foot of the mountain, why didn't you dare to come down and settle this in an open court when you came to seek justice? The heartless traitors and ungrateful lackeys you've recruited are merely tools to justify your own brutality and ugliness! You're a pack of murderers!"

"We implore Sect Leader Chen Xue to clear your name!"

The former citizens of the Upper Realm, rescued from the Lin Yi conflagration, wept with fury, shouting, "Frame-ups and deceitful intentions, you aren't even human, but monstrous beasts, ghosts!"

Some cultivators couldn't bear to witness it, brandishing their swords in anger. "Have you spoken enough? The Heavenly Sound Pavilion was established by divine beings. Spouting such foul language, do you fear hell after death?"

Amidst the silence, a storyteller suddenly appeared, flicking his paper fan and pointing at the Heavenly Sound Pavilion's sign with a sneer. "Going to hell? ... Well, my esteemed Immortals, listen closely then—" He cleared his throat and spoke with a melodious cadence, "The Heavenly Sound Pavilion is but a sty compared to a pigpen!"

Amidst laughter, everyone clapped their hands in delight.

A noble youth remarked, "Sir, this is the most captivating tale I've heard in the dozen years you've been storytelling."

"Indeed! The Heavenly Sound Pavilion is no better than a pigsty!"

A crescendo of voices echoed, leaving the cultivator furious, his face resembling the color of liver. Unable to strike back or retaliate with words, he stood frozen on the spot for a moment before storming away with an ashen expression, sleeves flapping in the breeze.

Given that these people were mere mortals without any spiritual energy, the Heavenly Sound Pavilion held no regard for them and allowed their commotion. However, as more and more people from all corners of the land arrived, the disciples could no longer bear it. By the second day, one of them finally mustered the courage to report to Mu Yanli –

"Master, the square is now filled with commoners pleading for justice for Life and Death Peak. Shouldn't you address them, perhaps?"

Mu Yanli's expression was aloof. "There's no need to explain to them. People like this will soon realize it's futile and leave after shouting a bit."

"But now there are..." The disciple hesitated, "Over a thousand people blocking the entrance..."

Mu Yanli was slightly taken aback. "A thousand people?"

She gracefully rose from her rosewood incense couch, treading on the plush animal-skin carpet as she made her way to the window.

Looking down, she peered through the intricately carved latticed windows at the scene outside. The main square of the Heavenly Sound Pavilion was blanketed in a sea of white. Ordinary people, dressed in mourning attire, had gathered there. Some were shouting angrily, while others sat calmly on the ground, displaying an obstinate determination to stay put.

A crease formed between Mu Yanli's brows.

The direct disciple beside her spoke cautiously, "It's been two days, and not a single person has left. Instead, the crowd keeps growing. Folk from all the towns and villages in Shu are flocking to the Heavenly Sound Pavilion. If this continues, our plan to solicit false testimonies might really be uncovered."

Mu Yanli: "..."

"Chamber Lord, what should we do?"

Mu Yanli pressed his lips together, not answering right away. Instead, a gentle voice like polished jade sounded from behind him, "If you can't handle it, then don't try to."

Beads of crystal swayed as Shi Mo strolled into the warm chamber. The disciple, upon seeing him, hurriedly bowed, "Senior Holy Hand."

Mu Yanli, on the other hand, frowned and asked, "Why are you here? Aren't you supposed to be guarding Heaven-Stepping Lord?"

"All the spirit core fragments have already merged into his heart. But he won't awaken just yet," Shi Mo walked to the window and glanced down indifferently, "There seems to be quite a crowd. They really have too much free time."

Mu Yanli's face was slightly worried. "At a time like this, you're still making sarcastic remarks. It's only thanks to the Heavenly Sound Pavilion's reputation that the situation hasn't spun out of control. But I don't know how much longer I can hold it together. There may be many fools among those cultivators, but there are also those who aren't. If these common folk keep causing trouble, Heaven-Stepping Lord might wake up to a drastically different scenario."

Shi Mo, however, smiled. "Sister Mu, don't worry. No matter how much things change, the Heavenly Sound Pavilion will remain stable."

"How so?"

"Cultivation is ultimately about ascending to become a deity. They wouldn't offend the descendants of heaven while still on earth," Shi Mo said. "Don't they know in their hearts if Death and Life Peak is guilty or not? Don't they understand if those testimonies were false?"

"..."

"At the time, they chose to believe because they feared a conspiracy at Death and Life Peak, feared Mo Ran's game. They wanted to eradicate this sect themselves, so they were willing to believe the testimonies of those few dozen people." Shi Mo's fingers traced the window lattice as he spoke softly, "They are well aware of the situation."

The nearby direct disciple said, "B-But letting these commoners keep shouting isn't a solution, is it? We still need to give them an explanation, right?"

"That's why I just said what I did. If we can't handle it, we shouldn't try to."

Mu Yanli asked, "What do you mean?"

"Be straightforward about it. Drive them away."

Mu Yanli said, "…The Heavenly Sound Pavilion has never forbidden honest speech, nor would they unjustly chase someone away. Your actions might invite criticism."

Shi Mo replied coolly, "Didn't I just explain it? They already know whether the Heavenly Sound Pavilion is right or wrong. But they won't rise up immediately. By the time they gather their courage—our Heaven-Stepping Lord will have awoken. You understand what that means, don't you?"

"…" Mu Yanli seemed to want to say something but found it contradictory. In the end, he closed his eyes and turned to instruct his disciple, "Go and disperse them."

With the most loyal disciple gone, only Mu Yanli and Shi Mingjing remained in the cozy chamber.

The two of them stood by the window, observing the situation below.

Pavilion disciples emerged one after another, their white-golden attire shimmering in the sunlight. The mourning citizens, seeing them, believed that an explanation was finally coming and rose to surround the group of disciples.

Due to the distance, Shi Mo and Mu Yanli couldn't hear their conversation, but the anger was evident.

Suddenly, for some unknown reason, a civilian rushed forward and grabbed a Heavenly Sound Pavilion disciple, slapping them loudly across the face—

Chaos erupted!

Mu Yanli's eyes widened as the crowd surged below, pushing and shoving. The dozen or so disciples were caught in the midst of the commotion, receiving punches and kicks.

How could she endure this? Even Mu Yanli, known for her composure, couldn't stand idly by when her disciple was publicly insulted and assaulted. She was about to push open the window, allowing her disciples to use their spells for self-defense, but her hand was seized.

Shi Mo said, "Let them fight."

Mu Yanli replied, "The Heavenly Sound Pavilion has rules. Without orders, cultivators cannot retaliate against commoners. If I remain silent, these blows could be fatal."

Shi Mo spoke calmly, "Then let one of them die."

Mu Yanli: "!"

Anger could cloud one's judgment, especially when a group attacked a few individuals. Their blows often became more ruthless.

Soon, Mu Yanli noticed the crowd pause.

They gradually formed a small circle, revealing a newly inducted Heavenly Sound Pavilion disciple lying on the ground, someone whose name she couldn't even recall. The disciple was sprawled on the floor, blood seeping from his body.

Shi Mo released Mu Yanli's hand and said, "Good, now we have a reason to crush these ants. Do it."

The challenge in suppressing violence lay in finding an excuse.

With the right excuse, violence and suppression become effortlessly achievable tasks.

The gates of the Heavenly Sound Pavilion swung wide open, and soon, a large group of disciples emerged, armed and ready, charging towards the unarmed civilians.

The crowd instantly descended into chaos.

They began by driving the people away, then started slashing with their swords. Shouts, screams, and curses intertwined in the air. People dodged, yelled, and pushed, but no one turned to flee.

"If you continue to resist, don't blame the Heavenly Sound Pavilion for its ruthlessness!"

"When has the Heavenly Sound Pavilion ever been compassionate?" A trembling voice suddenly echoed from the crowd, belonging to the village chief of Jade Cool Village. "This old man is here today to seek justice. Even if I die here, I will have no regrets."

Ling'er, the village girl, was even more grief-stricken and furious. Standing alongside her aunts and uncles, she refused to back down. "Go ahead and kill us all if you dare! Today, Grandma will see if you have the capability to silence all the people of Shu and quell public outrage!"

The leader of the Heavenly Sound Pavilion's elite forces gritted his teeth. "A pack of brutal and stubborn peasants, lining up to court death." Seeing the crowd rise up, spells flickered with dazzling light.

Suddenly, a whistling arrow pierced the ground, bursting into a field of golden light! Then, a bright yellow barrier soared into the air, thunderously blocking both sides.

The elite force leader bellowed, "Who dares?!"

A streak of white light darted across the sky, followed by the swift twang of a bowstring and the howling of wolves piercing the air! Amidst this astonishing display of spiritual power, a handsome cultivator with an elegant appearance leaped down, holding his bow and standing coldly before the people of Shu, surrounded by swirling mist. Behind her stood a wolf demon, towering over two grown men, with snowy fur, golden claws, and fiery red eyes, baring its teeth as it fiercely exhaled.

Shi Mo narrowed her eyes from the upper floor, "Ye Wangxi…"

Ye Wangxi retracted his bow with a fluid motion, summoning a longsword with the other hand. Standing alone in the wind, he met their gaze with unwavering determination and intensity.

"Isn't it you?!" someone from the Heavenly Sound Pavilion recognized her, glaring at her with anger, "You're one of those remnants from the Confucian Wind Sect."

Ye Wangxi remained silent, taking a step forward with his long legs.

"That time you insisted on giving water to Mo Ran, I knew something was off!" the elite from the Heavenly Sound Pavilion declared, "Sure enough, you're in league with Mo Ran! Both of you are the root of all evil!"

The longsword slid out of its scabbard like a flowing stream.

Ye Wangxi narrowed his eyes and said, "Who the root of all evil is, you know deep down. But there's one thing you all have right."

Pausing for a moment, she continued,

"I, Ye, do indeed stand alongside Grandmaster Mo."

The leader of the Heavenly Sound Pavilion's elite sneered, "Ye Wangxi, you're just a woman. Do you intend to fight us alone?"

Ye Wangxi was clearly enraged by the incident at the Peak of Life and Death. Flames seemed to burn in her eyes as she threw her sword forward with fierce spiritual energy, piercing the stone slab directly with the non-divine weapon, creating a shocking crack on the ground!

She gritted her teeth and said, "I've tolerated you all for far too long. Stop using the word 'woman' as an insult!"

"..."

In the past, when other cultivators saw Ye Wangxi, she usually displayed a submissive and conciliatory attitude.

This was the first time they had seen her enraged.

"Hear me out," Ye Wangxi's tense body resembled a leopard, unyielding as she stared straight at the men. "Back then, the Peak of Life and Death didn't abandon our Confucian Wind Sect in its time of need, nor did it neglect the people of Lin Yi during their crisis. Although the Peak of Life and Death is no more, I, Ye Wangxi, will not allow you to harm the remaining citizens of Shu any further!"

None from the Heavenly Sound Pavilion had ever fought Ye Wangxi head-on, so they underestimated her strength, assuming she was merely a weeping girl by their young master's side. Thus, someone couldn't help but scoff, "Brat, do you know what you're saying?... You alone want to protect that flock of helpless birds behind you? How arrogant! Where do you get your nerve?"

"Well, then, watch closely and see if I have the ability or not!"

She tossed aside her scabbard, revealing a sword blade as cold as frost.

Ye Wangxi no longer bothered with their nonsense. With a snap of her fingers and a leap of her long legs, she sprang nimbly onto the demonic wolf. Immediately after, she pulled the sword embedded in the ground and charged at the group of Heavenly Sound Pavilion cultivators, their expressions ranging from disdain to contempt.

Inside the warm pavilion, Shi Mo observed the chaotic scene below with a composed expression. Her watery lips parted as she sneered coldly, "Hmph, I thought I'd never see that female war goddess from my past life again. Yet, in the end, she was still pushed down this path."

"War goddess?"

Shi Mo didn't respond directly but instead looked at Ye Wangxi with a mix of pity and irony, "Look, Sister. In one's life, one may wander down many divergent paths. But in the end, the outcome is always the same. Whoever she was in her previous life, she can't escape that fate in this one."

Blood spurted, flames clashed with lightning, and cries of battle filled the air as she single-handedly emerged amidst countless blades and shadows. A barrier behind her shielded all the non-magical civilians.

This woman, clad in black, had a slender waist and long legs—when wielding her sword, she was Ye Wangxi.

But the Naobaijin bow complemented her flawlessly, and the quiver embroidered by Lady Rong swayed at her hip.

The moment she raised her bow, she transformed into Nan Gongsi.

In this lifetime, she had experienced more than in her previous one. She had felt helpless, bewildered, and even enjoyed a brief respite of clarity and affection.

On that evening when Nan Gongsi gave her the jade pendant, the clouds on the Bridge of Helplessness were painted with hues of sunset. She had believed that she could finally let go of her rigid sense of justice and return to being the gentle maiden who laughed and cried freely.

But Nan Gongsi was gone, deceased without any warning. Before his departure, he had even reassured Ye Wangxi, who had stayed behind to fight the enemies, "I know you fear the dark; I'll be back soon."

Yet, he never returned.

Therefore, Ye Wangxi, in the end, lost her vulnerability as well as her shield, just like in her past life. She gradually absorbed and assimilated the last remnants of their affection, slowly accepting her solitary existence. In her heart, she silently held two funerals for herself—

Elder Xu passed away, taking Little Ye with her. She personally buried the memory of their shared spring breeze and wine under the peach blossoms, symbolizing their mentor-apprentice relationship.

Nan Gongsi's death took away Miss Ye. She extinguished the light of their decade-long shared nights in the martial world, just like the lanterns in the rain.

The War Goddess sealed the tombs of the girl and the woman.

Turning around, Ye Wangxi arrived alone before the Heavenly Sound Pavilion, facing an army of cultivators and soldiers.

Observing the fierce battle below, Shi Mo instructed Mu Yanli, "Send all the high-ranking disciples of the Heavenly Sound Pavilion to confront her. This woman cannot be spared."

Mu Yanli was slightly startled, "All high-ranking disciples? She's... just a young lady..."

Shi Mo glanced sideways with a smile. "This lady caused even Heaven-Stepping Lord immense suffering in her previous life. If you underestimate her, you'll soon discover just how stubborn she can be."

The gates opened, and high-ranking Heavenly Sound Pavilion disciples emerged en masse. As Ye Wangxi maintained the protective barrier, she fought fiercely with the crowd.

She still wore the green crane hair ribbon of the Confucian Wind Sect, and as she dodged and retreated, the ribbon fluttered vigorously. Mu Yanli had given a death order, so those Heavenly Sound disciples attacked her relentlessly. It was difficult for one person to withstand a group assault, but Ye Wangxi refused to retreat, bolstered by Nao Baijin's bravery. For a moment, she did not fall behind.

"Add more people," Shi Mo said indifferently, watching the scene unfold like a spectator at a pond. "Anyway, since she's come to us today, we can't let her leave alive—"

"Nan, look over there!"

Suddenly, Mu Yanli interrupted Shi Mo, drawing everyone's attention to a layer of blue-silver mist rising on the horizon.

It was the elders and disciples of Death and Life Peak, arriving!

Those who had survived because of Madame Wang's protection still wore their Death and Life Peak armor, stepping on glittering silver swords as they descended from the cloud veil, forming an imposing array. Leading the charge were Tu Lang and Xuan Ji, their robes billowing in the wind.

Behind them, over a thousand disciples stared with fierce, round eyes, their armor reflecting the sky!

Elder Xuan Ji declared loudly, "Is this how the so-called divine descendants of the Heavenly Sound Pavilion bully the weak with numbers?"

The Greedy Wolf was brooding and fierce, his brown eyes fixated on the scene below. He minced no words, his five-character declaration concise and filled with rage: "Die, all of you!"

"…" Shi Mo's face clouded slightly as he faced the onslaught of soldiers charging towards them. The curve of his lips was ambiguous, neither a smile nor a sneer.

"What bad karma we share," he murmured, gazing at the throngs of people. "Every major battle seems to start with a showdown against someone from Death's Peak."

There was no sign of Chu Wanning in the crowd... After disrupting the Heavenly Sound Pavilion's execution, where had Chu Wanning and Mo Ran gone? With Mo Ran's heart having been dug out so many times, there was no way he could still be alive. Then what about Chu Wanning?

Was he guarding Mo Ran's new grave, or had he, like in their previous life, chosen to die alongside Mo Ran?

Both possibilities irritated Shi Mo, stirring a vague unease within him. Turning around, he headed for the inner chamber.

Mu Yanli asked anxiously, "Where are you going?"

"I'm going to check on the situation with Heaven-Stepping Lord," Shi Mo paused. "I need to figure out how to wake him up sooner. Once he wakes, the Door of Time, Life, Death, and Rebirth can open again—no one will be able to stop us then."

With slender fingers, he traced the Heavenly Sound Pavilion's runes, and the secret chamber rumbled open. Descending the long staircase, Shi Mo followed an ornately engraved corridor past three barrier seals, arriving at the deepest part of the stone chamber.

Here, the ground was covered in frost, and a thin mist hung in the air. A piece of jade was embedded in the grayish-blue vaulted ceiling, radiating a holy light. Below it lay a cold crystal coffin, and before it Shi Mo came to a halt, bowing his head to look at the man lying inside, fully clothed.

"Heaven-Stepping Lord Mo Weiyu…" he murmured, his gaze settling on the glowing array on the man's chest. "After such a long slumber, it's time for you to awaken, isn't it?"

His words seemed to have no effect, as Heaven-Stepping Lord remained with his eyes tightly shut, his lips devoid of color.

"The spiritual flow is so disrupted," Shi Mo said, placing his hand on the man's forehead and sensing it carefully. He then gazed thoughtfully at the handsome, chiseled face. "Were you having a nightmare?"

Of course, the unconscious man couldn't respond to him.

Gently brushing aside the stray hairs on the man's forehead, Shi Mo wore an expression of tenderness, as if he were looking at an unparalleled divine weapon in the making. He spoke softly, "Although I've taken back your spirit core, which is essentially yours, the merging process with your heart might still cause some discomfort."

His voice held a bewitching allure, casting a hypnotic spell of will.

"Heaven-Stepping Lord, don't believe anything you dream, for it's all an illusion. ... Come, wake up. When you awaken, you'll have everything."

Bending close, his words whispered tantalizingly near the ear.

"Whether it's Shi Mingjing or Chu Wanning, even your mother, they'll all come back to you."

"Wake up soon," he murmured to the dreaming deity. "I'm waiting for you."